Ottawa Art Gallery Launches Urgent Exhibit on Death’s Meaning

UPDATE: The Ottawa Art Gallery is set to unveil an evocative exhibition titled The Art of a Good Death, opening on November 8 and running until January 11. This groundbreaking event invites Canadians to engage in a poignant dialogue about mortality and the meaning of a good death.

Inspired by the heartfelt story of a friend who chose medically assisted death due to Huntington’s disease, artist Aimee-Rose Philibert reflects on her experience through her art. She recalls the emotional farewell among friends in a Quebec forest, stating, “It was awful because we were losing a friend, but so strong and empowering.”

The exhibition features works from over 100 artists across Canada, selected by a jury including Sarina Isenberg, a palliative-care researcher at the University of Ottawa. The goal? To bridge the gap between art and healthcare by exploring themes of physical comfort, emotional peace, and dignity in death.

Isenberg emphasizes the need for public engagement on such a sensitive topic, aiming to make conversations about death more accessible. “It provides a softer opening for a conversation that otherwise can be quite jarring to initiate,” she explains.

Among the featured pieces is Philibert’s painting, capturing both joy and heartbreak. Another standout, Jennifer Kershaw‘s In Excelsis Doughnut, uses humor to highlight the importance of agency and comfort through food during terminal moments. Kershaw shares personal anecdotes about her grandmother’s longing for a homemade doughnut in the hospital, emphasizing the emotional significance of food in these final days.

The exhibition will include an interactive sapling installation, allowing visitors to express their thoughts on how they would like to die. As the sapling matures into a tree, each leaf will symbolize insights gathered from the community, showcasing collective perspectives on mortality.

Director Alexandra Badzak of the Ottawa Art Gallery stresses the importance of supporting artists in these discussions: “Artists are able to interpret complex topics in a way that allows people in.” As the art world grapples with the realities of life and death, this exhibit serves as a critical platform for dialogue.

Running until January 11, The Art of a Good Death at the Ottawa Art Gallery (50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa) is more than an exhibition; it’s a call to reflect, share, and engage in meaningful conversations about life’s ultimate journey. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore what a good death means to you.